General Questions:
How does Elite Home Care for Loved Ones select its Registered Nurses?
Elite Home Care for Loved Ones selectively recruits only exceptional healthcare professionals with specialized knowledge and many years of clinical experience. The majority of Elite Home Care for Loved Ones Registered Nurses hold a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and have experience in various ICU and critical care units in the top hospitals in the metro New York area. Their nursing skills are exceptional and they are adept at assessing client’s needs.
How does Elite Home Care for Loved Ones select its Home Health Aides?
In accordance with “The Grandma Rule℠,” our company selectively recruits exceptional Home Health Aides. All of our professional and paraprofessional staff are fully vetted and legal to work in the United States. In addition, we perform extensive reference and background checks. This has enabled us to achieve the highest standard of quality within the home healthcare market.
Are the caregivers employees of Elite Home Care for Loved Ones?
Yes, all our caregivers are hired by and are direct employees of Elite Home Care for Loved Ones. Our company does not subcontract any core homecare services. Given this, Elite Home Care for Loved Ones is solely responsible to pay all taxes, insurances, and fees associated with caregivers. Under no circumstance would a client need to pay our caregivers directly.
Are your caregivers insured?
Yes, all Elite Home Care for Loved Ones employees are covered under the company’s General/Professional Liability, Medical Malpractice, Disability, and Workers Compensation policies.
How do I decide if I need a Registered Nurse or a Home Health Aide?
Final decisions on skill set requirements should be made after your Registered Nurse case manager conducts the intake assessment and provides recommendations based on findings. Open discussion serves to ensure the best solution.
What is a Geriatric Care Manager?
Geriatric Care Managers are health and human service specialists who act as advocates to guide older adults and families in an effort to improve their quality of life, independence, and overall well-being. Geriatric Care Managers act as your trusted advisor to ensure that your loved one is getting the help they need. Alliance Homecare Geriatric Care Managers are certified and licensed Social Workers or Registered Nurses who are trained and adept at finding practical and effective solutions to problems. Having a professional Geriatric Care Manager allows families to focus on being a family while someone else handles difficult situations and solves problems.
If I have a Home Health Aide, how often will a Registered Nurse visit me?
After your Registered Nurse case manager develops your plan of care, he/she will visit you at least once a month to conduct an assessment, modify the plan of care whenever your condition changes, supervise the caregiver(s) to ensure they are following the plan of care, and confirm everything is running according to plan. Additionally, your Registered Nurse case manager will place periodic calls to your home to monitor status. There is no additional charge for this service.
How is my physician involved in the home care process?
All original Plans of Care and amendments to Plans of Care require your physician’s signature. Any changes to your status will be communicated directly by your Registered Nurse case manager to your physician.
What are Home Health Aides not allowed to do?
Home Health Aides cannot do anything that would be described as clinical or invasive. They cannot pour any medications, but are allowed to administer pre-poured medications. If the client requires insulin, or other injections, they must be administered by the client, a trusted member of the family, or a Registered Nurse. Home Health Aides are meant to provide care and support the well-being of the client, not for a spouse or additional members of the family.
Will I always receive care from the same caregiver?
Although it is not always possible, Elite Home Care for Loved Ones believes the best practice is to have consistency in home care so both clients and caregivers form a bond of companionship and trust. If you require extensive or 24-hour home care, it is only practical to have more than one caregiver assigned on a shift basis. Clients should expect to see the same team of caregivers on a regular basis.
What is the difference between live-in care and continuous care?
A live-in caregiver stays in your home overnight, requires a place to sleep, and the ability to sleep so that he or she is able to safely provide care. If you receive live-in care, your caregiver requires 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. If this requirement is not practical, due to your condition or due to space concerns, we would assign two different Home Health Aides, each working a 12-hour shift, to provide continuous care day and night.
What happens if I have a medical emergency?
911 is always the first call in the event of any medical emergency. Caregivers are instructed to follow the emergency plan to notify their Registered Nurse case manager after 911 has been called. There is an emergency preparedness procedure that every caregiver is trained on as part of the hiring process, with training updates conducted annually. Elite Home Care for Loved Ones works with the family to provide a prioritized list of emergency numbers. This central contact sheet should always be placed in a highly visible area at your home.
If I call 911 and I am taken to the hospital, should I bring my caregiver?
It is your choice, but Elite Home Care for Loved Ones recommends that your caregiver go with you so he/she can help facilitate the transition from home to hospital. Your Home Health Aide has been trained to immediately communicate any hospitalization to their Registered Nurse case manager.
If I am hospitalized, can my Elite Home Care caregiver stay with me?
Yes. You may use your Elite Home Care for Loved Ones Registered Nurse or Home Health Aide caregiver in the hospital to act as a patient advocate. This also helps to ensure your comfort and that you are receiving the highest level attention.
What if I am not happy with the caregiver Elite Home Care sends me?
If you are not happy with your caregiver, call the Elite Home Care for Loved Ones office at 1.347.834.2008 and a member of our staff will discuss this further with you. If a resolution or remediation cannot be achieved, Elite Home Care for Loved Ones will work to replace him/her and find a caregiver that better fits your needs as soon as possible.
Can I order my durable medical supplies through Elite Home Care for Loved Ones?
Yes. As a valued Elite Home Care for Loved Ones client, you have exclusive access to our medical equipment concierge service and preferred pricing. Our care management team will work directly with you to select the right products for all your home healthcare needs.
What kinds of rehabilitative care and therapies does Elite Home Care for Loved Ones offer?
Elite Home Care for Loved Ones provides physical therapy for clients who need to regain strength or function after an injury, surgery, or illness, as well as for clients with ongoing therapy needs. We also offer acupuncture for those interested in pain relief or restorative therapy. Please refer to our Additional Services section and contact our office for more information.
Can I ask my caregiver to go to the store for me?
Yes, your caregiver can assist you in running errands such as shopping for personal supplies.
Do I have to provide meals to my caregiver?
You are not required to provide your caregiver with meals. For caregivers that spend a significant amount of time in your home, it is a polite gesture to offer them food, but it is not a requirement.
I keep a kosher house. Do your caregivers know what this means?
If you keep a Kosher home, please make sure to tell your Registered Nurse case manager during the initial intake process, and an appropriately experienced and educated caregiver will be included in the schedule.
Can my caregiver come with me to my appointments?
Yes. Your caregiver can certainly escort you to and from any personal or medical appointments, and can accompany you on other errands. You are responsible for covering all travel related expenses on behalf of your caregiver.
Is my caregiver required to wear scrubs during their shift?
The standard at Elite Home Care for Loved Ones is that all healthcare professionals and paraprofessionals wear scrubs in the field. If you strongly prefer he/she wear civilian clothing during their shift, please notify your case manager, in advance.
Scheduling Questions:
What happens if I need last minute additional care due to sickness or family emergency?
As a full-service home care company, there is no need to worry about last minute disruptions. There will always be a trained and qualified backup caregiver to provide care for you.
What is the policy for inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances?
Employee safety is of major concern to our company. If there is impending bad weather on a scheduled workday, caregivers will do their best to get to the client’s home safely, and on time. If the weather does not permit the caregiver to get to the client’s home, the office staff will notify the client and make every attempt to find a different caregiver to take that shift, if the client requires care. If there is an existing caregiver at the home whose shift is ending, we will notify that caregiver to stay with you at your home until relief has arrived.
What happens if the caregiver does not show up on time?
As with any employment arrangement, unforeseen circumstances can interfere with a schedule. Elite Home Care for Loved Ones uses a phone-in time card system that alerts us if someone does not check into their shift at the appointed time. We will immediately follow-up and manage the situation. One of the major advantages of working with our agency is the assurance and peace-of-mind that our staff is available at a moment’s notice.
Who do I call if I need to cancel my shift?
If you need to cancel your shift for any reason, please call our office at 1.347.834.2008. To avoid charges, please notify us 48-hours prior to the scheduled shift, as much as is possible.
I am concerned about being able to reach someone at Elite Home Care for Loved Ones over the weekend, on a holiday, or late at night if I need help.
Elite Home Care for Loved Ones is available to help you 7-days-a-week, and we are accessible 24-hours a-day. Either an answering service or an on-call member of the Elite Home Care for Loved Ones team will assist you after normal business hours, with any urgent service issues or requests. If there is an emergency of any kind, please call 911.